United States: Minneapolis catches fire after death of African American man killed by police

Text by: RFI Follow

The northern US city of Minneapolis saw its third night of riots on Thursday after the death on Monday May 25 of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American who was killed by a white police officer. The protests have so far been mostly peaceful, but the violence has gone up a notch: demonstrators have burnt down the police station where the police officers are working, clashes and looting have also taken place.

Publicity

With our special correspondent in Minneapolis, Éric de Salves

The anger intensified very clearly with a new stage in Minneapolis. In a scarcely believable scene in the United States , dozens of demonstrators entered a police station , setting fire to the building. Riot forces remain on hold for the time being.

#Minneapolisprotests pic.twitter.com/xO0CZALsC3

Teargas

The police only shoot tear gas sporadically but allow the looting to continue. This evening, many of these rioters do not hide it: they favor violence as a mode of political action.

“  We protested peacefully for so many years, it didn't get us anywhere. When we protest peacefully, we are not heard, gets angry Rachel, a protester on the spot . So what do you expect ? That we sit idly by while waiting for the next death ? No. Now take action !  "

In the early evening in front of the store where George Floyd was killed, prayer and meditation, anger and sadness. @RFI #minneapolisriots pic.twitter.com/XJAj488KaR

Anger and sadness

However, a few minutes earlier, in front of the store where George Floyd was killed, suffocated by a white policeman , the atmosphere wanted to be more peaceful. Anger and sadness reigned, but also meditation, with several pastors who came to pray in front of an improvised memorial.

That while anonymous people continuously dropped words, bouquets of flowers with, everywhere on the walls, inscriptions asking for justice for Georges Floyd. Or "  I can not breathe  " ( "  I can not breathe  ") or the last words of this African-American, 46, died under the knee of the policeman and whose death filmed by bystanders ignites tonight still Minneapolis.

Trump threatens protesters, tweet flagged for ' condemning violence '

The American president then spoke out about the riots, but his tweet was reported on Friday May 29 by Twitter for "  apology for the violence  ." Donald Trump called the Minneapolis protesters "  scum  ", also suggesting that law enforcement could open fire on them.

“  This tweet violates Twitter’s rules of violence. However, Twitter believes that it is in the public interest that this tweet remains accessible,  "said the social network on a banner on the tweet from Donald Trump.

Interesting move by @twitter. pic.twitter.com/LrCs7toWNW

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• Racism
• United States

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